Revised July 31, 1999

It's really peculiar to me that a dog can sit and sit, unnoticed and unwanted for weeks and even months on end, and when he finally finds a loving home, scores of people seem to want him. I have never understood this phenomenon, but it happens quite a lot. It's happened in this case, and all I can ask of the people suddenly so disappointed by Caton's adoption is that they consider helping another needy dog. Heaven knows, we are overrun with them.

I was beginning to despair for poor Caton. He was originally found wandering on Caton Avenue in Baltimore City, and he was picked up by Animal Control. He was wearing a collar with a rabies tag, and his owner was contacted, but her reply to the shelter staff was a cold "well, looks like you've got yourself a dog." When she was told he would be euthanized because of his horrible condition (he was filthy and full of mats and fleas), she snorted: "isn't that his fault for running away?" Incredible. I keep waiting to stop being amazed by some people and their attitudes, but it never seems to happen.

I was just as glad to get hold of this precious soul, as his mats were so severe, he was having trouble walking. He had slimeballs the size of baseballs hanging from his ears, weighing his head down. I cannot understand how people can let their animals get into this kind of condition. It's not as if the animals can bathe and clip themselves. I suppose if a person tells someone to go ahead and kill her dog, though, she surely couldn't be bothered to bathe or groom him. Maybe he was given up because he cannot hear very well. It is impossible to say. Imagine traveling alone and scared in a silent world, covered in filth, hardly able to move. I can't. But that was Caton's life.

He boarded over one month before a special lady from Marysville, Ohio offered to foster him. She was adopting our Zachary and traveling quite a distance to do it. Sadly, unknown to us, Zachary was living out his final days. He developed an autoimmune disease and died after only six weeks in his new home, in spite of many heroic efforts to save his life. Caton filled the sudden, terrible void. His foster mother had been trying not to become too attached to him, but she found this impossible. So he is home to stay, missing his buddy, but loving his new mother. She recently shared the following thoughts with me about Caton:

"When I look at Caton, I see a dog with big brown eyes that speak volumes of sadness and loneliness. Here is a dog that asks only that he be able to lie down next to you or cuddle in your lap. He doesn't bark, but he purrs when you rub him behind the ears. Here is a dog that grins when you come home and jumps up to greet you. And when you catch his eye, there is a light that goes on that says 'I am glad you are here.' He wags his tail all the time. He is a dignified dog, almost noble. He just needs someone to worship."

He now has that someone, and it is a mutual admiration society. I am so glad that Caton and his mother can be there for each other.